Machine for wrapping annular articles



Oct. 26, 1954 D, c. THOMPSON MACHINE FOR WRAPPING ANNULAR ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1948 INVENTOR. DONAL-D C. THOMPJ ON Oct. 26, 1954 D. c. THOMPSON 2,692,464

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING ANNULAR ARTICLES,

Filed Aug. 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .32 I I3 INVENTOR.

26 DONALD C THOMPSUN Oct. 26, 1954 D. c. THOMPSON 2,692,464

MACHINE FOR WRAPPING ANNULAR ARTICLES Filed Aug. 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 O 28 Fi INVENTOR. W r11 FL r-q I DONALD c. THOMPSON ww/fwa Oct. 26, 1954 D. c. THOMPSON MACHINE FOR WRAPPING ANNULAR ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 25, 1948 INVENTOR.

I DONALD C. THOMPSON Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR WRAPPING ANNULAR narrows Application August 25, 1948, Serial No. 46,076

19 Claims.

' This invention relates to protectively covering textile packages and particularly to an apparatus for applying a wrapper to an annular article such as strand packages.

Cakes of rayon yarn made by the viscose process, for example, after being removed from the spinning box are subjected to various treatments, such as washing, drying and dyeing. To prevent the strand and the cake from becoming tangled, snagged or broken during the handling involved in such operations, a cover is placed around the package which holds the windings of a strand substantially in their relative positions. The conventional cover used for this purpose is a sleeve 12 or 18 inches long of a knitted material such as rayon thread applied to a rayon cake by inserting it through the middle of the cake and folding the ends of the sleeve around each end of the cake and along the exterior annular walls of the cake with one end of the sleeve overlapping the other. The cost entailed in providing cake covers of this type is substantial and such that the covers must be used repeatedly until they are worn out. In fact the cakes are frequently shipped in the cover to textile manufacturers who remove the covers and return them to the yarn manufacturers for a rebate or credit.

It is an object therefore to provide an inexpensive strand package cover which may be discarded after being once used. Still a further object is to provide apparatus for enclosing a strand package with a discardable cover. Still another object is to provide a replaceable cake cover of sufficient durability to withstand handling and processing to which strand packages such as rayon cakes may be subjected in being prepared for weaving and knitting operations. It is an object also to provide an apparatus adaptable to modern automatic packaging machinery wherein many packing operations are carried out in rapid sequence and/or automatically. Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the drawing thereof in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of the invention showing a strand package and package holder partly sectioned and in an elevated position.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation partly in section and with parts broken away showing a support structure used in all of the apparatus herein illustrated; Fig. 4 is an elevation in section of the machine shown in Fig. 1 but with the package and package holder shown unsectioned and in a lower position;

Fig. 5 is a section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 taken along line V--V of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section of another embodiment of the invention for accomplishing the same operations as the apparatus of the first four figures;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation view partly in section of a portion of the machine shown in Figs. 6 and 7 with parts thereof in position for sealing a cover;

Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the mechanism used to cause engagement of pressure elements with package cover portions; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top view of a modification of a part of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

In brief, this invention comprises an apparatus for wrapping an annular article by placing the article between two concentric sheets and bringing the ends of the sheets projecting beyond each end of the article together in bonding engagement. While an article wrapped according to the invention may be completely enclosed and sealed, the central space or passageway is not enclosed by the wrapper and the contour of the space need not be substantially changed. The apparatus used to perform the wrapping is adapted to receive and support the package and the wrapper elements in such a relationship that parts of the apparatus may be caused to press together portions of the wrapper elements to be joined, and subject them to heat, if desired, and thereafter place the wrapped package in a position from which it may be removed manually or by automatic conveyor means.

Fig. 1 illustrates an apparatus which constitutes one embodiment of the invention wherein an article It such as a strand package may be placed on a vertically movable flange [2. A cylindrical wrapping portion I4 is supported on the exterior annular surface of the article or package It) by means such as a rubber band temporarily placed around the portion I4 or a piece of adhesive tape placed on the outer surface of the portion across the edge of a circumferentially overlapping section. Wrapper portion 15 is supported within the central opening of the article on a mandrel 25. The package 10 and wrapping portions I4 and I5 when arranged on the supports therefor, maybe lowered to a position wherein the package It is supported in a region located vertically intermediately of upper and lower concentrically arranged pressure elements I! and I 8. The upper pressure elements I1 are moved radially inwardly to press the margin of portion I4 against the upper margin of portion I protruding above the package I8; the pressure elements I8 are operated similarly with respect to the lower margins of wrapper portion I4 and I5.

A supporting member I I (refer to Fig. 3) comprising a flange I2, a disc portion 25, and a. sleeve portion 2| normally carries the package I8 when the package is raised or lowered, such as before and after the sealing operation. However, the member II drops away from the lower end of package It and comes to rest on a shoulder I3 of a lower portion of shaft 26 as illustrated on Fig. 3. The package It on reaching its lowermost position relative to shaft 26 is supported by detents 21 which project radially inwardly from a plate 33 constituting a portion of the support structure of the apparatus. Detents 21 extend radially inwardly from the periphery of the central aperture of a plate 33 to engage the outer margin of the surface of the lower end of the package I6; detents 21 are attached to the plate 33 as by welding in the spaces between the pressing and sealing elements I8.

The shaft 26 consists of sections of decreasing diameter looking upwardly along the shaft. The

shoulder I3 is the upper extremity of the lowest and largest portion; the next upper and smaller portion terminates in the shoulder I8 which determines the lowest position reached by a cylindrical member or mandrel 25 having a central bore of such diameter as to loosely fit the uppermost and smallest section of the shaft 26. When the upper surface of the disc portion 28- is above the shoulder I6, it supports the cylinder 25. However, when the package If! and the cover elements I4 and 5'5 are positioned for the sealing operation, it is necessary that the member II drop away from the package being supported by the detents 2?, to provide clearance for lateral movement inwardly along the end surface of the package Iii by the elements I'8. After the cover sealing operation, the member II is used to raise the covered and sealed package to an elevation from which it may easily be removed from the apparatus. The assembly comprising the cylinder 25 and the member I3 is raised and lowered by a lever 28 pivoted on a bracket 29 and acting on a pin 36 attached to the sleeve 2I. The pin extends through a slot 32 in the end of the lever 28.

The package H3 and cover portions I4 and I5 are placed in position on the elevated cylinder 25 and package supporting assembly II as shown in Fig. 1. They are then lowered into a position wherein the ends of the cover portions I4 and I5 projecting beyond the package I!) are brought into lateral alignment with the elements [1 and I8 by raising the outer end of a lever 28. The elements I1 and I8 may be thereafter moved radially inwardly to press together and seal the upper and lower ends of the elements I4 and I5. The detents 21 as they extend radially inward slant downwardly at a small angle, for example, 10 to 20 degrees to permit the package I6 to settle into a position whereby the elements I8 may move radially inward in close proximity or along the lower end of the package II) so that the cover portion I4 will be folded neatly around the end of the package I8 and pressed against the end of the cover portion I5 which projects below the end of the package It). Coinciding with the movement of the elements I8, the upper set of sealing elements I1 move inwardly over the upper end of package I!) to press together and seal the upper ends of the covers I4 and I5. The elements I1 and I8 are maintained at the inner position for sufiicient time, i. e., a matter of a few seconds, for fusion and adhesion of the adjacent surfaces of the cover portions to take place. The elements I1 and i8 are heated by electrical means such as the coils 35 mounted thereon.

To move the elements I1 and I8 radially inwardly and outwardly along the surfaces of the plates 34 and 33 respectively, a cable pulley mechanism such as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5 is used. Vertically disposed pairs of pressure elements I1 and I8 are connected by shafts 36. The upper end of each shaft 36 also extends through slots in the plates 34 and 33 which extend inwardly along these plates for a distance equaling the radial movement of. the elements I! and i8. This arrangement permits radial movement of the shafts 36in a direction normal with their axes toward the axis of the package It and cylinder 25. A pulley 38 is secured on each of the shafts 36 midway between the plates 34 and 33. A cable 48 is anchored at M (Fig. 5) on a concentric support casing 43 which extends between and is secured to the plates 34 and 33. The cable 40 is led around the nearest pulley 38 in a counter clock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, around the remainder of the pulleys 38 and is secured at point 45 within a peripheral groove 46 of a wheel or Windlass 48. Wheel 46 is supported on bracket members 45a and 49b and a shaft 56 extending therebetween. Members 49a and 4% are secured to plates 34 and 33. Wheel 48 is provided with a lever 5| by means or which the wheel 48 may be rotated in a clockwise direction to exert tension on the cable 46. As the wheel 48 is rotated, the length of cable about the pulleys 38 is contracted and the pulleys and the shafts 36 are forced radially inwardly of the plates 34 and 33 along the slots 53. As the ends of shaft 36 are extended through journals therefor in the sealing elements I1 and I8, said elements are forced inwardly toward the package cover element I4. However, as soon as the cable 40 is released the shafts 36 are pulled outwardly by resilient means comprising cables 55 attached at one end to shafts 36, extending over pulleys 56 and attached by their other ends to springs 51 secured to a frame member 59 of the machine.

Each of the elements I1 and I8 is slidable within guides 60, best shown in Fig. 1, secured to plates 34 and 33 by Welding or other means. The elements I1 and I8 in order that they may be heated are provided with electric coils 35 attached to the radially outward portions of the elements I1 and I8 and as shown in Fig. 1 electrically connected in series by wires 62 and connected with an electric power circuit by wires 63'.

A modified form of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 is shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 for sealing a strand package cover. It differs essentially from the earlier embodiment by the employment of gear means to obtain movement of radially movable sealing elements instead of the pulley-cable arrangement employed in the earlier described apparatus. The means for supporting and raising or lowering the package In and cover elements I4 and I5 therefor is the same as that used in the apparatus of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The description of the present embodiment will proceed onward to the different mechanism employed for-joining the edges of the cover elements M and I5. Sealing of the upper and lower edges of the cover elements l4 and I5 is brought about by a radial movement of elements Ha and I861. which press the annular ends of cover portion I l inwardly against the annular ends of the element which project or extend beyond the ends of the package Ill. Members Ila and [8a are mounted as shown in Fig. 8 on the ends of slidable rods or bars '56. These rods or bars are guided in their movement radially inwardly andoutwardly of support plates 68 and 69 by guides 10.

- A plurality of assemblies 65 are mounted on the upper surface of plate 68 and the lower surface of lower plate 59 in vertically disposed pairs. These assemblies 65 comprise the parts illustrated in Fig. 9 in an exploded view wherein the slidable channel member 66 to which an element Ila or Ella is attached, reciprocates within a guide member 75 secured to either plate 68 or 69. A slide bar member '12 normally fits within the channel of member 66 and is reciprocable therewithin. Members 72 and 66 when in assembled relationship are moved radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to plates 68 and 59 by cams 13. A cam '13 is secured to each end portion of each shaft 15 projecting through the plate 68 and B9. The cam 73, referring again to Fig. 9, moves the slidable portion of the assembly 65 by rotating within the notch 11 of the bar 12. In the most outward position of the members 66 and '12, the periphery of the cam 13 works against the edges 79a and 80a as well as the end 82 of the notch 11 This relationship is caused by the urging of bar i2 lengthwise to the right (as viewed with the parts oriented as they are in Fig. 9) within the channel member 66 by the spring 84 which bears on a surface 85 of a flanged nut 86 secured on the stud portion 81 of bar 12. The other end of the spring bears against the flange 89 of the channel member 66. However, when the cam 13 rotates clockwise from the position of the cams as shown in Fig. '7 to force the members 72 and 66 inwardly toward the package cover member M, the element Ila or Illa attached thereto progresses inwardly until the end of the package cover I4 is pressed against member l5 of the package cover. When contact between the members M and I5 is first established, the spring 84 is distended holding the member 12 as far to the right as possible relative to member 66. However, as the cam continues to turn, member 12 moves to the left within member 66 held stationary as a result of its contact with the package cover members. The compression of spring 84 as the result of relative movement of members 66 and 11 results in resilient engagement of the element Ila or lBa with the work. In this manner uniform pressure is brought to bear on all the elements Ila or l8a engaging and sealing the ends of the package cover elements. To obtain this result, the cams 73 secured on opposite ends of shaft 15, must be exactly in phase with each other.

- So that all of the sealing members may be moved in unison, the shafts 15 are interconnectedby a gear system comprising a gear 90 mounted on each shaft 15, and a ring gear 92 supported concentrically about a casting 93 which extends between the plates 68 and 69. Ring gear 92 meshes with each of the gears 90; movement thereof results in a simultaneous rotation of all the gears 90. Movement of gear 92, however, is obtainedas a result of rotation imparted bya straight rack gear 95 to gear a, similar to gear 90 and best shown in Fig. '7, in mesh also with ring gear 92. Rack gear is reciprocated by a piston on the end thereof working within a conventional air cylinder 96 which may be caused to travel right or left in the apparatus of Fig. 7. Movement of the rack gear 95 to the right as shown on Fig. 7 causes clockwise rotation of the gears 90 and the cams 13 as shown by the arrows. Members 66 and 12 are forced toward the mandrel 25. They are retracted by a reverse movement of the rack gear 95. The valves (not shown) which control the air cylinder 96 may be operated manually, or by automatic control means such as a cyclical controller commonly used in the operation of automatically timed processing machinery.

In Fig. 10, an alternative means is shown which may be uesd instead of the cam system of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 8, and 9. To obtain radial movement of the element Ila or I811 of the figures, instead of cams, small gears such as the gear 9'! are mounted on the end of shafts 15a. A slide bar 72a, instead of having a notch such as the notch 11 of member 12 in Fig. 9, is provided with teeth 98 along a side thereof which mesh with the teeth of gears 91. A notch 800 is made through the side of the channel member 66a to permit extension therethrough of the gear 9'! to make contact with the teeth of plunger 12a. The spring 84a. and a nut 86a is used to support it along a stud section 810. with the plunger 12a for the same purpose as the analogous parts found in the apparatus in Fig. 9. However, to aid the plunger 82a. in carrying the channel member 66a radially away from the package cover region, a pin 9t extends laterally away from the side of plunger 12a. opposite the toothed side. The pin 94 slides within a slot 94a through the side wall of the channel member 68a in slidable contact with the plunger. The relationship of the slot 940. and the pin 94 are such that when the plunger 12:]. has moved outwardly within the channel member 66a, the spring 84a. is substantially decompressed. The pin 91 contacts the end of the groove 98 and moves the channel member 6617. also radially outwardly away from contact with the package or package cover.

As shown in Fig. 7 all the elements I'm and 1801. are interconnected with wires 99 which may be connected in series, if preferred, as shown. Wires 10a and [09b lead off to an electric power source. The elements I8a also contain electrical heating means and may be connected in a similar manner.

In the various embodiments described and shown herein independent means are shown for controlling the position of the article or package and cover portions therefor, and the pressing and sealing means. Obviously these movable portions of the apparatus of the invention may be controlled automatically in timed sequence by cyclical controllers of conventional design. The apparatus provided by this invention may be used as a simple machine substantially as described, or incorporated merely as a portion into a larger machine comprising many such units. It may be considered as a unit of packaging an article or package of specific shape such as cakes of artificial filaments and adaptable for incorporation into large high speed packaging machinery of a general type which already exists.

The embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of mechanical amass means which may: be employed to suppor-t and elevate: or lower the articleor package and the cover portions and to press. together and: seal the endof the package cover. Other means than the electrical means employed are available for heating the cover portions-being joined. For example, they may be heated by heated; air or gas, or by a high frequency electrical' field.

Thematerial constituting-the wrapper portionsmay be of any sheet material desired; in one pre ferred form it consists of a permeable tissue or tea bag paper having a very light permeablecoating of a thermoplastic resin on oneside of the paper and suitable for covering annular strand packages which are treated with liquids. The wrapper material may comprise also sheetsto which. an adhesive is applied merely to portions to be joined, or by still another expedient, astrand strip, filament, or-thread of a thermo plastic material may be inserted between. surfacesto be joined before or during the wrappingprocess. This invention is not limited toany particular adhesive or resin however, and itis to be understood that any form of glue or cement may be applied instead of the thermoplastic fila-- ments or yarns. If desired, one of. its inter twisted filaments or yarns may beof a heat resistant type so that even after the sealing, theheat resistant. thread remains to: facilitate tearing the juncture of the: package. open or apart. desired, the wrapping material may comprisethermosensitive material which becomesadhesive' upon the application of heat, For example, a

paper may comprise a substantial proportion (15 to 100%) of thermosensitive fibers, forexamples thermoplastic fibers formed of vinyl: resins of.

which Vinyon is representative. In this case,.

the application of sealing means isunnecessary.

After application of the sealing means. about the circumference of each protruding portion of the wrapper, when such sealing means is necessary, a second. wrapper sheet or tube ofpermeable paper or paper-like material is placed about the outer circumference of the package preferably so that it fits snugly thereabout through. a.

small amount of looseness. may be tolerated.

Thereafter the protruding ends. of. the outerwrapperare folded down to. engagement with the.- inner wrapper or, when the wrappers do. not. contain thermosensitive. material, with the sealing means. The package may be sea-led by the application of a hot iron or the element I1, [8, Ma and Ida of thedrawings. Sealing may extend completely all the: way around the package orzit may be accomplished at. spaced spotstherearound. The heat-resistant thread, where: used, may extend out from the sea-l so. that it is available for subsequent tearing after the treatment.

Papers made from regenerated; cellulose. fibers,

such as are obtainable; from viscose. or cuprame monium cellulose solutions, lengths; from about /15 inch to. one inch or longer have high. wet

strengthsv and may be used successfully in the practice. of this. invention. Any permealzlle paper:

the materials from which the subsequent deactivation.

which has increased wet strengtlrasthe result or resin impregnation during or subsequent; to their formation: intoa sheet issuitable. Examples of such papersarethosewhich: are formed: from fibers impregnated with urea-formaldehyde; phenol-formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde resins and thev like. Other suitablecovering materials are those: of paper-thin felts made from fibers ei'ther of paperor textile-making length comprising a small proporti'orrof heat-activatable fibers or consisting entirely thereof whichare caused to adhere. to-- each other as well. as the non-activatable fibers, if any, wherever they touch by activation to: anadhesive state. and Suitable activatablc fibers include thermoplastic fibers of the'c'ellu lose. ester type, such as cellulose acetate; and of the vinyl resin type, such as the polyvinyl chlorides, copolymers of vinyl chloride with vinyl-' acetate, and after-chlorinated polyvinyl chlorides or copolymers ofvinyl chlorideand vinyl acetate; Such fibers may be activated to an adhesive condition. by heat or by solvent or swelling agents; Phe papers or paper-like felts containing such fibers. may be compacted under pressure while the fibers are in adhesive condition to assure adhesion together at their points of crossing and may be deactivated by cooling or evaporationof? solvent. Theuse of the vinyl-resin fibers is especially advantageous where the processing liquids to which the wound packagesare subjected are highly corrosive, and for this purpose, a paper com-posed entirely of chemically resistant vinyl resin fibers may be used, the permeability and wet strength in such case being controlled either by careful control over the conditions of activa tion or by mixing aselected proportion of' vinyl resin fibers which are .activatable at a lower tem-- peratureor by a lower concentration of solvent agent than the rest of the vinyl resin fibers. Thus fibers madeof the less easily activated" after-chlorinated copolymers oftoparts? by weight vinyl chloride with- 30 to- 5 parts by weight of vinyl acetate may be mixed with a: predetermined proportion of fibers made of the corresponding unchlorinatedcopolymers'.

The wrappers may be perforated or slitted; but preferably they are of sufiicient permeability without perforation or slitting to allow free pas sage of" the treating liquids and thegases during liquid treatment, vapor treatment, and the like. As. another expedient, it may be preferred to feed molten resinous material intothe region betweentheparts to be joined toeliminate the heating means for obtaining bonding or sealing of the cover portions.

While preferred embodiments ofthe invention have been shown, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended" claims;

I claim:

1-. apparatus for forming and sealing a wrapper about an annular article and arranged '2 around a principal axis comprising a mandrel concentrally and movably supported along the axis, a lifting member concentrically andmov ably supported alongthe axishavingan annular radial surface adapted for lifting and lowering the mandrel and an upwardly extending flange contiguous with the surface for supporting the article, two groups of elements spaced from each other in substantially parallel planes at' a distance approximately equal to the lengthof the article and spaced from the axis of the mandrel i at a distance greater than the radius of the article including an exterior wrapper therefor, said elements being movable inwardly toward the mandrel, detent means for limiting the descent of the article to a position between the planes of the elements, detent means for limiting the descent of mandrel to a position between the planes of the elements, and means for lowering the lifting member to provide clearance for passage of the lower group of elements laterally past the lower end of the article.

2. An apparatus for forming and sealing a wrapper about an annular article comprising a central pedestal, a mandrel concentrically and slidably supported on the pedestal having an annular radially extending surface adapted for lifting and lowering the mandrel and an upwardly extending flange contiguous with said surface for supporting the article, two groups of elements spaced from each other in substantially parallel planes at a distance approximately equal to the length of the article and spaced from the axis of the mandrel at a distance greater than the radius of the article including an exterior wrapper therefor, said elements being movable inwardly toward the mandrel, support means for the elements, detent means for limiting the descent of the package to a position between the planes of the elements, detent means for limiting the descent of the mandrel to a position between the planes of the elements, and means for lowering the lifting member to provide clearance for passage of the lower group of elements laterally past the lower end of the article.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the supporting means for the elements comprises two spaced substantially parallel plates apertured to permit insertion therethrough of an article and an outer cover member therefor, each of said plates supporting a group of elements laterally slidable with respect thereto.

4. An apparatus as in claim 2 comprising also vertical shafts opposite ends of which extend through corresponding members of the upper and lower groups of the elements, and means for moving the shafts sidewise toward the axis of mandrel.

5. An apparatus as in claim 2 comprising two spaced substantially parallel plates apertured to permit insertion therethrough of an article and an outer wrapper portion each of said plates supporting a group of elements slidably with respect thereto, vertical shafts the opposite ends of which extend through corresponding members of the upper and lower groups of the elements, radial slots in the plates each along an area contacted by an element for extension therethrough of the shafts, and means for moving the shafts sidewise toward the axis.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5 comprising also a pulley secured to the middle portion of each shaft, a cable extending around the apparatus 1 over the pulleys radially exteriorly of the shaft axes, and means for contracting the length of the cable around the apparatus.

7. An apparatus as in claim 5 comprising also a pulley secured to the middle portion of each shaft and a cable anchored at one end to a frame member of the apparatus extending around the apparatus over the pulleys radially exteriorly of the shaft axes and terminating in an end secured to a Windlass mounted on the apparatus.

8. An apparatus as in claim 2 comprising two spaced substantially parallel plates apertured to permit insertion therethrough of an article and an outer wrapper portion therefor constitute the support means for the elements and each of the plates support a group of the elements slidably with respect thereto, vertical shafts extending through bearings therefor in the plates, cams secured to opposite end portions of each shaft, cam following surfaces on the elements in engagement with the cams, a gear secured on each shaft, gear means meshing with and interconnecting for the gear means for imparting clockwise and counter-clockwise movement to the gear means.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the gear means is a ring gear meshing with the shaft gears spaced along its periphery, and the driving means for the gear means comprises a rack gear in mesh with a shaft gear, and a fluid cylinder operatively connected with the rack gear.

10. An apparatus as in claim 2 comprising two spaced substantially parallel plates apertured to permit insertion therethrough of an article and an outer wrapper portion therefor and constituting the support means for the elements whereby each of the plates slidably supports a group of elements, vertical shafts extending through bearings therefor in the plates, gears secured to the opposite end portions of each shaft, a side of the elongate portions of each of the elements provided with teeth in mesh with a gear, and an intermediate gear secured on each shaft to the portion extending between the plates, gear means meshing with and interconnecting all of the intermediate gears in simultaneous movement, and a driving means for the gear means for imparting clockwise and counterclockwise movement to the gear means.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the gear means is a ring gear meshing with the intermediate gears spaced along its periphery and the driving means comprises a rack gear in mesh with an intermediate gear, and a fluid cylinder operatively connected with the rack gear.

12. An apparatus as in claim 2 having means for reciprocating the elements wherein an element comprises a channel member having a wrapper engaging end portion supported within a guide mounted on the support means for the elements, a bar member supported slidably within the channel member and positively reciprocated by the reciprocating means, resilient means acting between positions of the bar member and the channel member to urge the channel member lengthwise of the bar member toward the mandrel, and detent means acting between the bar member and the channel member limiting the relative movement of the two members whereby the element may be disengaged from the wrapper during its radially outward movement from the mandrel but resiliently engages the wrapper at the extremity of its ambit toward the mandrel.

13. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein each of the elements are heated.

14. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein each of the elements have electric heating coil means attached thereto.

15. An apparatus for forming and sealing a wrapper about an annular article and arranged around an upwardly-extending principal axis comprising detent means for supporting the article with its axis extending upwardly, said detent means being arranged concentrically about said principal axis to engage an outer margin of the lower end surface of the article, a mandrel supported in generally coaxial relationship with said principal axis, said mandrel being adapted to extend through the central opening of an article supported by the detent means with a portion of the wrapper for the article extending around the mandrel, the mandrel being longer than the article and extending beyond an end thereof, and at least one group of movable elements supported in the normal position thereof spaced from the principal axis at a distance greater than the radius of the article including an exterior wrapper portion therefor, said elements being disposed for movement inwardly toward the mandrel in immediate proximity with an end of said article seated on the detent means to engage the mandrel or said sheet material.

16. An apparatus for forming and sealing a wrapper about an annular article and arranged around an upwardly-extending principal axis comprising detent means for supporting the article with its axis extending upwardly, said detent means being arranged concentrically about said principal axis to engage an outer margin of the lower end surface of the article, a mandrel supported in generally coaxial relationship with said principal axis, said mandrel being adapted to extend through the central opening of an article supported by the detent means with a portion of the wrapper for the article extending around the mandrel, the mandrel being longer than the article and extending beyond at least one end of the article, and at least one group of movable elements supported in the normal position thereof spaced from the principal axis at a distance greater than the radius of the article including an exterior wrapper portion therefor, said elements being disposed for movement inwardly toward the mandrel in close proximity with an end of the article to engage the mandrel or said sheet material, and lifting means for moving the article lengthwise of the principal axis between its position in engagement with the detent means to a position above the detent means and said elements.

'17. Apparatus for forming and sealing a wrapper about an annular article and arranged around an upwardly-extending principal axis comprising detent means for supporting the article with its axis extending generally upwardly, saiddetent means being arranged concentrically about said principal axis to engage an outer margin of the lower end surface of the article, a mandrelsupported in generally coaxial relationship with said principal axis, said mandrel being adapted to extend through the central opening of anarticle supported by the detent means with a portion of the wrapper for the article extending around the mandrel, the mandrel being longer than the article and extending beyond both ends of the article, and two groups of elements spaced from each other in substantially parallel planes at a distance approximately equal to the length of the article .and spaced from said principal axis at a distance greater than the radius of the article including an exterior wrapper portion therefor, said elements being movable inwardly toward the mandrel to engage the mandrel orsaid wrapper portion extending therearound.

18. Apparatus for forming and sealing a wrapper about an annular article and arranged around an upwardly-extending principal axis comprising detent means for supporting the ar- :12 ticle with .its axis extending upwardlmsaid .detent means being arranged concentrically about said principal axis to engage an outer margin of the lower end surface of the article, a mandrel supported in generally coaxial relationship with said principal axis, said mandrel being adapted to extend through the central opening, and-beyond both ends, of an article supported :by the detent means with a portion of the wrapper for the article extending around the mandrel, two groups of elements spaced from each other .in substantially parallel planes at a distance approximately equal to the length of the article and spaced from said principal axis at a distance greater than the radius of the article including an exterior wrapper portion therefor, said :elements being movable inwardly toward the mandrel to engage the mandrel-or said wrapper portion extending therearound, and lifting means for raising and lowering the article between a position thereof above the upper group of 'elements and the position of the article when it rests on the detent means.

19. Apparatus for forming and sealing a wrapper about an annular article and arranged around an upwardly-extending principal axis comprising detent means for supporting the article with its axis extending upwardly, saiddetent means being arranged concentrically about said principal axis to engage-an-outer margin of the lower end surface of the article, a mandrel supported in generally coaxial relationship with said principal axis, said mandrel being adapted to extend through the central opening, and beyond both ends, of an article supported by the detentmeans witha portion of the wrapper for :principal axis to raise or lower the article between a position thereof above the .upper group of elements and the position of .the article when it rests on the detent means, said lifting means being movable inwardly away from the end of the article to provide clearance for the passage of the lower group of elements laterally past the lower end of the article.

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